An Analysis of Geographic Trends in Exceptional Student Education Services

Abstract

This study examines geographic patterns of inclusive education placements and specialized programs for students with disabilities in a single region of Florida during the 2017–2018 academic year. Publicly available data on exceptional student education services are used to compare three adjacent school districts on enrollment patterns. Thematic mapping of educational placements at the school level is used to illustrate geographic patterns for one of the districts. Overall, results suggest that the majority of students in the region are served for most of the day in general education classrooms. Geographic maps show that schools with specialized programs tend to be clustered in areas with larger populations. These results have important implications for developing transportation routes that can minimize travel times for students with disabilities who attend specialized programs at schools outside of their assigned zone.